The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has commended the conflict-resolution approach adopted by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in the ongoing dialogue over the longstanding Ogoni oil conflict.
MOSOP President, Fegalo Nsuke, described the approach as a model that could be applied to other conflict-affected parts of Nigeria to promote reconciliation and national integration.
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Mr Nsuke made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking with journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State.
He said Mr Ribadu had demonstrated what he described as exceptional leadership and character in handling the Ogoni dialogue and urged the people of Ogoni to support the process.
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“It is quite amazing to see that Mr Ribadu has been able to coordinate a reconciliation process in Ogoni successfully, and we are seeing the emergence of a new era and a brighter future for the Ogoni people,” Mr Nsuke said.
He added: “The NSA’s Ogoni model should be replicated in all crisis regions of Nigeria to achieve national reconciliation and integration.”
Recognition for Ribadu
Mr Nsuke said MOSOP would honour the NSA at the conclusion of the reconciliation process, saying Mr Ribadu would be considered for an Ogoni National Merit Award and a traditional chieftaincy title.
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He attributed the proposed recognition to what he described as the NSA’s role in addressing an oil conflict that has persisted for more than three decades.
Mr Nsuke also urged Ogoni people to take advantage of the ongoing dialogue and appreciate President Bola Tinubu and Mr Ribadu for their involvement in the process.
“I think we, the Ogoni people, should be appreciative of Mr President and the NSA who have exceptionally shown concern and acted rightly to address the Ogoni problem,” he said.
Focus on development
The MOSOP president said the current priority for Ogoni should extend beyond disagreements over who leads the dialogue process.
He called for greater attention to employment, healthcare, education, security and social welfare, particularly for young people and elderly residents.
“That should be our concern and not who leads or who does not lead the dialogue process.”
Background
The federal government’s renewed engagement with Ogoni stakeholders comes against the backdrop of more than three decades of conflict surrounding oil exploration, environmental degradation and demands for greater benefits from the region’s resources.
Oil production in Ogoniland stopped in 1993 following protests and opposition to oil operations. The 1995 execution of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders further intensified international attention on the crisis.
A United Nations Environment Programme assessment published in 2011 documented extensive hydrocarbon contamination in Ogoniland and recommended a comprehensive environmental remediation programme. The federal government subsequently commenced the Ogoni clean-up programme in 2016.
The latest dialogue has also generated disagreements among Ogoni groups over the proposed resumption of oil production.
In August, PREMIUM TIMES reported that 51 civil society organisations opposed plans to resume oil production in Ogoniland, arguing that environmental restoration should take precedence over reopening oil wells. They also raised concerns over the environmental risks associated with renewed extraction.
The debate intensified after concerns were raised about oil-related activities during ongoing consultations. KAGOTE, another major Ogoni socio-cultural organisation, called on Mr Ribadu to investigate the process and provide greater clarity on oil activities, employment opportunities and contracts linked to the dialogue, Channels TV reported.
KAGOTE said its position was not against the resumption of oil but sought a process that is transparent, inclusive and credible.
There have also been concerns over the environmental risks associated with oil infrastructure in the area. In December 2025, Mr Ribadu linked a fresh oil spill in the Kpean community, Khana Local Government Area, to sabotage and said such incidents threatened ongoing clean-up efforts, Arise TV reported.
The NSA previously led a federal delegation to Rivers State as part of efforts to consolidate the peace process in Ogoniland. The ministers of works and environment, and senior officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, were part of the delegation.
However, MOSOP has continued to support the Ribadu-led dialogue. In July, Mr Nsuke urged Ogoni people to embrace the process, describing it as an opportunity to seek a lasting resolution to the longstanding conflict.
With the dialogue still ongoing, MOSOP’s latest position signals its continued support for the federal government-led reconciliation effort, while other Ogoni groups and civil society organisations continue to demand transparency, environmental safeguards and broader participation in decisions concerning the future of oil production in the region.
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